LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Media council faulted on Third Street Bridge

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

To the Times:

Shakespeare never had the opportunity to live in Media or observe its politics, but his character Hamlet well summed up the current situation regarding the 17-year-old Third Street Bridge controversy when he referred to "the insolence of office" in his play. Last Thursday's council meeting and the actions of a four-member majority thumbing their noses at the will of the people of Media were a truly sad commentary on the democratic process we all cherish.

For nearly two decades now the bridge and roadway linking media to its neighbor Upper Providence has been closed down for safety reasons regarding the dam breast which supports it. During this time the vast majority of the people of Media and surrounding communities have wanted governmental action to reopen this road artery.

This road is so vital to commerce, economic vitality, the safe and economical passage of school buses and as a required access way for all types of emergency vehicles for public safety.

They still do. And this support has been reflected in the fact that every elected council member in Media since 1980, both Democrat and Republican, including six of the seven present council members, have supported reopening this roadway for vehicles as being in the public interest. The necessary state funds for rebuilding were obtained again in a bi-partisan manner and a court settlement last year resolved this issue.

A majority of the present council in fact voted for this settlement and reaffirmed opening the bridge for vehicles in May of this year.

So why, we ask, do four members of council ignore all these past cooperative efforts, deceive their fellow members about the real content of this vote last Thursday, and turn their back on the majority of their fellow citizens they took an oath to represent? Is because of "the public interest?"

No, reopening the bridge to vehicles on a two-lane, two-way roadway is in the best interest of a majority of Media's residents and its neighbors. Is it because most people want a one lane one-way bridge? No, because you can ask virtually anyone in both communities and nearly all want the two-lane two-way bridge.

For a change, just ask them council members and see what they say. Is it because the rebuilding of a two-lane bridge would harm Glen Providence Park? No, the county Park Board, which runs this park for all the residents of Delaware County, not just a small group of activists, do not support or believe this red herring diversion. Is it because four members of council have allowed themselves to become political hostages and fellow travelers with a small, unelected and self-serving group of ideologues, Who have pressured them politically to protect their own personal interests by making Third and West streets an exclusive conclave for the well to do and well connected?

As Shakespeare once again would wisely observe, "Therein lies the rub!" A whole town held hostage to the wants and desires of the few.

So much for the responsibility of elected officials and the principles of representative government. Perhaps the real reason why this vote came about was expressed in a comment made to me two months ago by the current council President Hall. I said to him, "Do you want that bridge area to remain closed and look like it does now for another 20 years?" His answer, " There are those of us who don't think that would be so bad." Case closed!

I commend Mrs. Rehoric, Ms. Roe and Mr. Robinson for standing up for the best interests of the people of Media. We the people are grateful to them for standing with us and urge all concerned citizens of Media who value government of the people for the people to make their outrage known to their four "representatives" about this travesty of justice.

Speak up and demand that the borough council do its duty and abide by both the court order and the wishes of the majority of the people of Media and rebuild a two-lane two-way bridge for everybody's benefit and the real public interest.